Oladipo’s return should give lift to Pacers

<p>Finding a pineapple plantation on the North Pole might be easier than seeing Nate McMillan’s name in any NBA Coach of Year articles or discussions.</p><p>A shame, really, if you’re paying close attention.</p><p>Entering tonight’s home game against Chicago, the Indiana Pacers are 13 games above .500 at 30-17, good enough to be tied for the No. 5 playoff position in the Eastern Conference heading into last night.</p><p>All without star guard Victor Oladipo, whose has been the street-clothed version of himself since sustaining a ruptured quad tendon injury in his right knee against Toronto a year ago today. At times without Malcolm Brogdon, the former Milwaukee guard who the Pacers enticed in the offseason with a four-year, $85 million contract.</p><p>Oladipo, who averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists last season before the injury, circled tonight’s game for his long-awaited return. It’s McMillan’s responsibility to gradually ease the former Indiana University standout back into his starting rotation.</p><p>Once there, Oladipo will work to develop chemistry with Brogdon and the team’s leading scorer this season, former Phoenix forward T.J. Warren.</p><p>Depending on how one views it, the Pacers’ timing couldn’t have been worse — or better.</p><p>Sure, the team might be hovering around 35 victories at this point with a healthy Oladipo or had Brogdon, guard Jeremy Lamb and forward/center Myles Turner not missed 14, 11 games and nine games, respectively, to injury.</p><p>The glass-half-full version is to look at what Warren, Domantas Sabonis and others have done in their absence.</p><p>Doug McDermott. Aaron and Justin Holiday. The budding legend and fan favorite that is backup point guard T.J. McConnell. Suddenly, Indiana possesses depth. Quality depth, not five-new-guys-on-the-court-so-the-starters-can-rest depth as was often the case in seasons past.</p><p>Should all the Pacers remain healthy and move forward with its current cast, they have a chance to become must-see viewing after the NBA All-Star Game, scheduled for Feb. 16 in Chicago.</p><p>Besides Milwaukee and Indiana, the Eastern Conference’s Central Division is dreadful, nearly assuring the Pacers no worse than runner-up status. Moreover, of the 35 regular-season games remaining after All-Star break, 20 opponents presently sport losing records.</p><p>The Pacers entered the 2019-20 season knowing approximately when Oladipo would be returning and keeping their fingers crossed that they could still have success in the meantime.</p><p>The fact that they have speaks volumes about McMillan and his coaching staff, not to mention the moves general manager Kevin Pritchard orchestrated in the offseason.</p><p>Add a healthy Vic Oladipo working backcourt magic with a healthy Malcolm Brogdon, working with the pieces already in place … and … and …</p><p>You get the picture.</p><p><em>Mike Beas is a sportswriter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</em></p>